The semi-final line up in the Royal London One Day Cup will be completed on Thursday as Surrey take on Kent in a localish derby at The Oval.
Both sides will be eager to see off the other and set up a semi-final where the winners will host Nottinghamshire in what should be a tasty match.
Surrey go into this quarter final off the back of topping their group. They only lost one match in the group stages which was a surprising loss at Taunton. Aside from that they were near enough flawless and are the team to beat in this match.
Kent edged into the last eight by virtue of having a better run rate than Lancashire and Warwickshire which enabled them to finish fourth in the group. They will need to be at their best here but we saw in the T20 Blast that they’re a good one day unit and if they have that form with them they will be dangerous.
Surrey welcome Kumar Sangakkara back into their squad after he has been away with Sri Lanka playing in his final Test match. That is a big boost but it is with the ball Surrey are perhaps better equipped. Jason Roy gets to play before leaving for England duty.
Kent had an injury doubt over Sam Billings after he went to hospital with a dislocation during their recent Championship match but all turned out fine in that regard and he is available to play in this one. James Tredwell and Matt Coles could be crucial with the ball.
I’m already on Kent outright so I’m not going to back them again but I wouldn’t necessarily put people off taking them. The Oval is a tough place to go and win but Kent walloped Surrey in a high scoring match here in the T20 competition last month.
Kent will be extra motivated going into this match having been edged out in the last eight stage of the T20 Blast without actually losing by runs, they lost by fewer wickets. If I wasn’t already on I might have taken them at the prices.
As it is I am on so my bet for this match is for the visitors to hit the most sixes. Kent hit big all the way down their order but if Sam Billings or Darren Stevens get going they could set a really daunting total. The only natural six hitter in the Surrey line up is Jason Roy and if Kent keep him quiet they’ll go a long way both to winning the match and hitting the most sixes. At 5/4 I’ll take the chance they do just that.
Back Kent Most 6s for a 4/10 stake at 2.25 with Betway
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